Hoyer: Palestinians Must Renounce Call for Israel’s Destruction

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) made the following remarks today on the House floor in support of S.Con.Res. 79:

“Mr. Speaker, this Resolution is an unequivocal statement of principle – a statement of our continuing support for our ally, the democratic state of Israel, as well as an explicit rejection of the hateful ideology that seeks her destruction. And, I hope every member will support it.

“This Resolution states, quite simply, that the United States should not provide direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority ‘if any representative political party holding a majority of parliamentary seats within the Palestinian Authority maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel.’

“The Resolution, of course, is necessitated by the electoral victory of Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization that is publicly committed to Israel’s destruction. Anyone who questions this need only read ‘the charter of Allah: the platform of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).’ Consider just one passage: ‘In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad.’

“Mr. Speaker, the Palestinian people voted in January in what appears to be free and fair elections, and the democratic expression of the people’s will should always be encouraged.

“It is clear that this victory by Hamas is, in part, a reaction by Palestinian voters to the rampant corruption in the Fatah movement that began and continued under Yasir Arafat. However, the Palestinian side must recognize that the election of Hamas to a parliamentary majority will not change or alter the absolute, irrevocable precondition for peace – the dismantlement of the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure.

“In fact, I believe that the international community must now exert its collective will upon Hamas and insist that it renounce the tactics of terror and pro-actively dismantle that terrorist infrastructure.

“Finally, let me say to our friends in Israel: the U.S.- Israel relationship today is stronger than ever, and we are fully committed to our ally’s security and success. I urge my colleagues: vote for this resolution.”